Fish attraction device

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for attracting fish is disclosed. The apparatus has a motor with rotating driveshaft that defines a rotational axis substantially parallel to a surface of a body of water. A housing encloses the motor, and the driveshaft extends therefrom. There is an impeller with a hub axially aligned with and coupled to the driveshaft. The impeller has one or more flat planar blades, each defined by a trailing edge and a leading edge and extending radially from the hub in an orthogonal relationship to the rotational axis of the driveshaft without pitch. A proximate end of the blades is fixed to the hub an opposed distal end includes a cupped paddle projecting therefrom with a paddle leading surface and a paddle trailing surface. Turbulence and cavitation is generated by the impeller, and the visual and audible side effects thereof are simulative of fish feeding activity.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to apparatuses for improvingthe chances of catching fish, and more particularly to devices forattracting and luring fish by mimicking group feeding activity at thewater surface based on mechanical agitation of water with concomitantsonic output.

2. Related Art

Fishing has been pursued for tens of thousands of years since at leastto the Paleolithic Age. Throughout much of its history, the primarypurpose of fishing was for sustenance, though in many cases it waspursued for recreational or sporting reasons. A wide variety ofpractices fall under the general category of fishing, but the mostpopular variation is angling, in which a hook (also referred to as“angle”) or other like tackle is attached to a rod by a line. The rodalso typically includes a reel that stores, retrieves, and pays out theline. The hook may be dressed with bait or an artificial lure topersuade the fish to bite down upon the same, resulting in the captureof the fish. Being weighted with the bait, the hook, and perhaps sinkersand lures, the end of the fishing line not attached to reel is cast outto the water. After the bait or lure is initially taken, the angler setsthe hook in the fish with a forceful movement of the rod and line. Theline, and hence the fish, is retrieved by rewinding the reel. Othertechniques that do not involve fishing rods and reels such as spearfishing, hand gathering, netting, and trapping are also utilized.

Practically any body of water can be home to fish, including oceans,rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds, and so there are numerous optionswith respect to location. Moreover, fish may be pursued from the shoreor on the water using boats and other vessels. A variety of specialtyequipment has been developed and adopted for different species and themost suitable pursuit techniques therefor.

Regardless of the techniques, locations, and modes of pursuit, one ofthe most significant challenges of fishing is finding the fish. To anovice, it may appear as though an encyclopedic knowledge of a body ofwater and how it may be affected by a combination of temperature andweather conditions, seasons, lunar cycles is a prerequisite for success.Furthermore, an in-depth understanding of the foraging and migrationactivities of the targeted fish, in concert with the aforementionedvariable habitat conditions, may be needed to identify the specificlocations within a body of water that would likely be the most fruitful.Although fishermen with extensive experience fishing a particular spotmay intuitively evaluate these conditions and factors, because of thealmost infinite variability, picking a fishing spot may at times seemlike a black art. Examples are legion where, despite best efforts, afishing trip concluded without even a single bite because fish could notbe found, or were not pursued in a manner that attracted the fish.

Numerous developments in the art have attempted, with varying degrees ofsuccess, to minimize the uncertainty associated with locating fish, onone hand, and to maximize the chances of catching fish. One such areawith constant development activity is the lure, the fundamentalobjective of which being the aural and/or visual simulation of speciesthat are part of the normal diet of the fish being pursued. Thesimulated species include worms, amphibians, smaller fish, and insects.Lures may be limited in that they must be positioned at least somewhatclose to the fish as they are to bite the hooks attached to the lure.Depending on the characteristics of the surrounding water, the visualand/or aural output from the lure may also be limited. Thus, castingskills that may not necessarily be possessed by novice, if not mostfishermen may be required.

Another development is the electronic visualizer that employs sonar orradar to detect and show the position/depth of nearby fish. Thevisualization may assist fisherman in navigating to a location on thewater where there may be a lot of fish, and to identify suitable depthsfor maximizing the opportunity to present the bait or lure. However,visualization may not be sufficient, particularly if the fisherman isimmobile, and/or outside the range of the equipment (line length, etc.)

Additionally, there are electronic callers that emit particular soundssimulating underwater events such as attacks by predators, movement, andthe like. The effectiveness of such devices have been limited mostlikely because fish, being living creatures that take in sensory inputsand alters behaviors in response, may not necessarily be “fooled” by thesimulation. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved andmore effective fish attraction device.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, anapparatus for attracting fish is disclosed. The apparatus may have amotor including a rotating driveshaft that defines a rotational axisthat is substantially parallel to a surface of a body of water.Additionally, the apparatus may include a housing that encloses themotor, with the driveshaft extending therefrom. There may be an impellerwith a hub that is axially aligned with and coupled to the driveshaft.The impeller may have one or more flat planar blades, each of which maybe defined by a trailing edge and a leading edge. The flat planar bladesmay extend radially from the hub in an orthogonal relationship to therotational axis of the driveshaft without pitch. Furthermore, the flatplanar blades may have a proximate end that is fixed to the hub and anopposed distal end with a cupped paddle projecting from each of the flatplanar blades. The cupped paddle may define a paddle leading surface anda paddle trailing surface. The cupped paddle may generate turbulence andcavitation upon alternatingly entering and exiting the body of water asthe impeller is rotated by the motor. Visual and audible side effects ofthe turbulence and cavitation may be simulative of fish feedingactivity. The presently contemplated embodiments will be best understoodby reference to the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodimentsdisclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the followingdescription and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of a fish attraction device in accordance withone embodiment of the present disclosure, shown in an environmentattracting fish;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the fish attraction device;

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of an impeller utilized inconnection with a first embodiment of the fish attraction device shownin FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of another impeller utilized in connection with asecond embodiment of the fish attraction device; and

FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the impeller shown in FIG. 4.

Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and thedetailed description to indicate the same elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of the presently preferredembodiment of the fish attraction device, and is not intended torepresent the only form in which it can be developed or utilized. Thedescription sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps fordeveloping and operating the invention in connection with theillustrated embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that the sameor equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by differentembodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spiritand scope of the invention. It is further understood that the use ofrelational terms such as first, second, distal, proximal, and the likeare used solely to distinguish one from another entity withoutnecessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or orderbetween such entities.

FIG. 1 depicts a first embodiment of a fish attraction device 10 beingoperated in a body of water 12 to attract fish 14. With additionalreference to FIG. 2, the fish attraction device 10 is generallycomprised of a motor 16 that is enclosed within a housing 18. The motor16 includes a rotating driveshaft 20 that defines a rotational axis rand extends from the housing 18. In its normal operating state, therotational axis r of the driveshaft 20 is substantially parallel to asurface or water line 13 of the body of water 12.

Because the fish attraction device 10 is contemplated to be at leastpartially submersible, the housing 18 may be sealed. The housing 18 hasan elongate cylindrical configuration with a front end 22 and an opposedback end 24 that defines an opening for the driveshaft 20. On a bottomportion 26 of the housing 18, toward its front end 22, there may be avertical stabilizer 28, also referred to as a skeg. Opposite the bottomportion 26, there is a top portion 30 that includes a support rod 32.According to one embodiment, the housing 18 defines a support rod collar34 that receives a first end 36 of the support rod 32. In furtherdetail, the support rod 32 and the housing 18 to which it is attachedmay be rotatable to orient the back end 24 in any desired location. Thehousing 18, along with the various components attached thereto, isunderstood to be suspended and partially submerged within the body ofwater 12. To this end, a second end 38 of the support rod 32 may besecured to a structure such as a transom or a gunwale of a boat withsufficient vertical offset to allow for the housing 18 to be suspendedpartially submerged in the body of water 12 as shown in FIG. 1. Due tothe potential variances in the freeboard height, the support rod 32 isunderstood to have an adjustable length.

As will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art, thehousing 18, the motor 16 enclosed therein, and the support rod 32 arepart of a re-purposed trolling motor that can be secured to a fishingboat. In general, these devices may be referred to as a secondaryoutboard motor used for slow, quiet and more precise movement in alldirections during angling. In this regard, the motor 16 may beelectrically driven with batteries that are located on the vessel. Therotation speed is controllable via a remote unit connected to the motor16 and accessible from the deck of the vessel. Depending on theoperational characteristics of the motor 16, varying current and voltagelevels from the battery may be utilized to operate the same at differentrotation speeds. Connective wiring for both the battery and the remoteunit may be routed through the support rod 32. Although there arenumerous variations as to size and output power of trolling motors, oneexemplary implementation uses a 75 horsepower motor. It will berecognized by those having ordinary skill in the art that any suitablealternative may be substituted without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

The fish attraction device 10 also includes an impeller 40, a firstembodiment 40 a thereof being shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3. Aswill be described more fully below, the impeller 40 a is understood togenerate turbulence in the body of water 12 as it is rotated. Theturbulence produces cavitation, which is the formation and rapidimplosion of air bubbles in the water. The collapse of these bubblesproduces shockwaves that result in visual and audible side effects thatare understood to simulate feeding activity by fish. This, in turn, isunderstood to attract the fish 14, tricking them to believing that thereis nourishment to be had in the vicinity of the turbulence. Theturbulence and resultant shock waves go beyond simple acoustics. Actualtests have shown that this technique for attracting fish is mostsuccessful with schooling types such as striped bass, though it iscontemplated that any other type will similarly be attracted. Moreover,weather and other environmental conditions in the body of water 12 thatclosely correlate to typical feeding conditions of the targeted fishalso understood to correlate with the effectiveness of attracting thefish 14. For instance, certain species of the fish 14 may be moreattracted in colder temperatures.

The specific arrangement of the cavitation-producing elements of theimpeller 40 are understood to generate a rhythmic, “pop-pop-pop-pop”type sound, with the rotation speeds being increased or decreased tocorrespondingly decrease or increase the intervals of time between“pops.” According to one preferred, though optional embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the motor is operated at 150 revolutions per minute(RPM), which in the embodiment with two opposed elements of the impeller40, translates to approximately 300 beats or “pops” per minute.

The first embodiment of the impeller 40 a includes a hub 42 with acenter 44 that is in axial alignment with the driveshaft 20. The hub 42is defined by a front face 46 and an opposed rear face 48. Additionally,the center 44 is characterized by an opening, through which thedriveshaft 20 is inserted. The driveshaft may have a threaded endreceptive to a nut 50 that couples and secures the hub 42, and thus theimpeller 40 a, to the driveshaft 20.

The impeller 40 a additionally has a first flat planar blade 52 a thatextends radially from the hub 42, as well as a second flat planar blade52 b that similarly extends radially from the hub 42. The first flatplanar blade 52 a and the second flat planar blade 52 b may becollectively referred to as the flat planar blades 52. According to oneembodiment, the flat planar blades 52 radially extend in an opposedrelation to each other, that is, they are in a spaced relationshiparound the hub 42 about the center 44 with an angular offset of 180degrees.

The flat planar blades 52 each define a proximal end 54 that is fixed tothe hub 42. It is expressly contemplated that the flat planar blades 52and the hub 42 are integrally formed, so reference to one element beingfixed to another element is not intended to be limiting. There isminimal consequence to the specific boundary of where one element endsand the other begins, and it is sufficient that the impeller 40 a iscomprised several different generally defined parts.

Like the hub 42, the flat planar blades 52 also have a front surface 56and an opposed rear surface 58. The flat planar blades 52 are understoodto be in an orthogonal, i.e., perpendicular relationship to therotational axis r of the driveshaft 20 as particularly shown in FIG. 2.In this regard, the flat planar blades 52 have no pitch or an angle ofattack relative to the rotational axis r in order to minimize forwardthrust while operating the fish attraction device 10.

The flat planar blades 52 may be balanced or unbalanced with respect toeach other. Balanced means that the cumulative weight of the first flatplanar blade 52 a any additional components appurtenant thereto, may besubstantially the same as the cumulative weight of the second flatplanar blade 52 including any of its appurtenant components. This isunderstood to generate a constant rhythm of shockwaves/sounds asdiscussed above. With unbalanced flat planar blades, the generatedshockwaves/sounds may alternate in volume and/or pitch due to thedifferent weights associated with each.

Although the illustrated example shows a pair of flat planar blades 52,this is not intended to be limiting. For instance, some embodiments mayincorporate just one flat planar blade 52. Other alternative embodimentsmay incorporate three or more flat planar blades 52. In general, variousembodiments contemplate one or more flat planar blades 52.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the flat planar blade 52 isdefined by a trailing edge 60 that is initially tangent with thecircular definition of the hub 42, but has a curvature or an arcuatesegment 62. Furthermore, the flat planar blade 52 is defined by aleading edge 64 with a linear segment 66 extending from the proximal end54 fixed to or otherwise integral with the hub 42. The trailing edge 60and the leading edge 64 converge upon a tip 68 of the flat planar blade52.

In the first embodiment of the impeller 40 a, the leading edge 64 has anorthogonal segment 70 which, together with the leading edge 64, definesa notch 72. This is understood to maximize directional water flowagainst a cupped paddle 74 that projects from the flat planar blade 52.In further detail, the cupped paddle 74 defines a paddle leading surface78 and an opposed paddle trailing surface 80. As shown in FIG. 1, thepaddle leading surface 78 is coincident with at least a portion of theleading edge 64 of the flat planar blade 52. More particularly, thecupped paddle 74 projects from the front surface 56 of the flat planarblade 52 and extends along its medial axis 82. That is, the cuppedpaddle 74 is disposed in a central region of the flat planar blade 52that is between the trailing edge 60 and the leading edge 64. However,it is also possible for the cupped paddle 74, and the trailing surface80 thereof, to be coincident with the trailing edge 60 of the flatplanar blade 52. The cupped paddle 74 may be integrally formed with theflat planar blade 52, or in the alternative, separately attached to thesame.

In the first embodiment of the impeller 40 a, the cupped paddle 74 isdefined by a first end 84 that is proximal to the hub 42, and a secondend 86 that is coincident with a distal end 76 of the flat planar blade52, as well as the tip 68. At the second end 86, the cupped paddle 74,and more particularly the paddle leading surface 78, is arcuate, i.e.,curved. In the embodiment shown, there is a first surface segment 88 anda second surface segment 90 that are joined obliquely relative to eachother at a joint 92. This is understood to define the cup that generatesthe turbulence and cavitation as the impeller 40 a rotates and entersthe body of water 12. The splashes generated by outgoing cupped paddle74 are also understood to contribute to the shockwaves that simulatefeeding fish.

Along these lines, as best shown in FIG. 1, the center 44 of impeller 40a, and hence the motor 16 and the housing 18, may be positioned slightlyabove or below the water line 13, or at least in a way in which contacttime of the water is maximized. In so doing, it is understood that agreater amount of turbulence and cavitation, and hence shockwaves, canbe generated to increased effect in attracting the fish 14. The specificpositioning may be varied according to the particular conditions duringoperation, and those having ordinary skill in the art will be able tomake adjustments in response to the activity or a lack thereof on thepart of the fish 14.

With reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the present disclosure alsocontemplates a second embodiment of the impeller 40 b. The operationalcharacteristics thereof are similar to that of the first embodiment 40 adiscussed above, but there are several variations that will be discussedin more detail below. Again, the impeller 40 b is understood to generateturbulence in the body of water 12 as it is rotated. Similar to thefirst embodiment 40 a, there is a hub 94 with a center 96 that is inaxial alignment with the driveshaft 20. The center 96 and an openingdefined thereby are receptive to the driveshaft 20. The nut 50 likewisecouples and secures the hub 94, and thus the impeller 40 b, to thedriveshaft 20.

The impeller 40 b has an alternately configured first flat planar blade98 a that extends radially from the hub 94 and a second flat planarblade 98 b that also extends radially from the hub 94, both of which arecollectively referred to as the flat planar blades 98. The illustratedexample of the pair of flat planar blades 98 is not intended to belimiting. The flat planar blades 98 radially extend in an opposedrelation to each other, that is, they are in a spaced relationshiparound the hub 94 about the center 96. Further, the flat planar blades98 each define a proximal end 100 that is fixed to the hub 94. Asreferenced to describe the second embodiment of the impeller 40 b, fixedmay refer to integrally formed variations, as well as separatelyattached variations.

The flat planar blades 98 have a front surface 102 and an opposed rearsurface 103. The flat planar blades 98 are understood to be in anorthogonal, i.e., perpendicular relationship to the rotational axis r ofthe driveshaft 20. Again, the flat planar blades 98 have no pitch or anangle of attack relative to the rotational axis r in order to minimizeforward thrust while operating the fish attraction device 10.

The flat planar blade 98 is defined by a trailing edge 104 that has anarcuate or semicircular segment 106. The flat planar blade 98 isadditionally defined by a leading edge 108 with a linear segment 110extending from the proximal end 100 fixed to or otherwise integral withthe hub 94. The trailing edge 104 and the leading edge 108 converge upona tip 110 of the flat planar blade 98.

The second embodiment of the impeller 40 b has a differently configuredcupped paddle 112, though it likewise has a paddle leading surface 114and an opposed paddle trailing surface 116.

The paddle leading surface 114 is coincident with the leading edge 108of the flat planar blade 98, while the paddle trailing surface 116 isalso coincident with the trailing edge 104. The cupped paddle 112projects from both the front surface 102 as well as the opposed rearsurface 103 of the flat planar blade 98. In other words, the cuppedpaddle 112 may simply be a section of the flat planar blade 98 that hasa greater thickness. The cupped paddle 112 accordingly defines a cupthat generates the turbulence and cavitation as the impeller 40 brotates and enters and exits the body of water 12.

The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes ofillustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention onlyand are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be themost useful and readily understood description of the principles andconceptual aspects of the fish attraction device 10. In this regard, noattempt is made to show more details than is necessary for a fundamentalunderstanding of the disclosure, the description taken with the drawingsmaking apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of thepresently disclosed methods may be embodied in practice.

1-17. (canceled)
 18. An apparatus for attracting fish, comprising: arotating impeller shaft defining a rotational axis substantiallyparallel to a surface of a body of water when deployed therein; and animpeller with a hub axially aligned with and coupled to the rotatingimpeller shaft, one or more flat planar blades each defined by atrailing edge and a leading edge and extending radially from the hub inan orthogonal relationship to the rotational axis of the shaft withoutpitch and having a proximate end fixed to the hub and an opposed distalend with a cupped paddle projecting from each of the one or more flatplanar blades and defining a paddle leading surface and a paddletrailing surface; a support rod defining by a lengthwise axis, therotating shaft being mounted thereto with its rotational axis offsetfrom the lengthwise axis of the support rod; wherein the impeller andthe rotating impeller shaft are maintainable in partial submersion inthe body of water when suspended from the support rod, and the cuppedpaddle generates turbulence and cavitation upon alternatingly enteringand exiting the body of water as the impeller is rotated, visual andaudible side effects of the turbulence and cavitation being simulativeof fish feeding activity.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, furthercomprising: a motor coupled to the rotating impeller shaft.
 22. Theapparatus of claim 21, wherein the motor is electric and a rotationspeed thereof is remotely controllable by applying a variable electricpower thereto.
 23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the one or moreflat planar blades comprises a pair of flat planar blades which are inopposed radial extension to each other.
 24. The apparatus of claim 20,wherein the one or more flat planar blades comprises three flat planarblades.
 25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the paddle leadingsurface is arcuate.
 26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the paddleleading surface includes a first surface segment and a second surfacesegment joined obliquely relative to each other.
 27. The apparatus ofclaim 20, further comprising: a vertical stabilizer fin defined by aflat planar surface disposed orthogonally to the rotational axis of therotating impeller shaft.
 28. A fish attraction impeller device,comprising: a hub axially aligned with and coupled to a rotating shaft;one or more flat planar blades each defined by a semicircular trailingedge and a straight leading edge, and extending radially from the hub inan orthogonal relationship to the rotational axis of the shaft withoutpitch and having a proximate end fixed to the hub; and a paddle portionprojecting from each of the one or more flat planar blades at an opposeddistal end thereof and each defining a paddle leading surface contiguouswith the straight leading edge of a corresponding one of the one or moreflat planar blades and a paddle trailing surface contiguous with thesemicircular trailing edge of the corresponding one of the one or moreflat planar blades.
 29. The device of claim 28, wherein: the one or moreflat planar blades each defines a front surface and a rear surface; andthe paddle portion projects from both the front surface and the rearsurface of the corresponding one of the one or more flat planar blades.30. The device of claim 28, wherein the paddle leading surface isarcuate.
 31. The device of claim 28, wherein: the paddle leading surfaceis semicircular and is defined by a radius smaller than a radius of thesemicircular trailing edge of the corresponding one of the flat planarblades.
 32. The device of claim 28, wherein the paddle leading surfaceand the paddle trailing surface converge on a tip.
 33. The device ofclaim 28, wherein the paddle portion is integrally formed andstructurally contiguous with the corresponding one of the one or moreflat planar blades.
 34. The device of claim 33, wherein the paddleportion has a greater thickness than the corresponding one of the one ormore flat planar blades.
 35. The device of claim 34, wherein thethickness of a first one of the paddle portions corresponding to a firstone of the one or more flat planar blades and the thickness of a secondone of the paddle portions corresponding to a second one of the one ormore flat planar blades are equivalent.
 36. The device of claim 28,wherein the one or more flat planar blades comprises a pair of flatplanar blades which are in opposed radial extension to each other.